The mission of the Ocean Rescue Bureau is to provide professional emergency lifesaving services on Miami-Dade County's public beaches.
Miami-Dade County 's lifeguards were transferred from the Parks Department to MDFR in October of 2003. With nearly 100 employees, the Ocean Rescue Bureau has continued its tradition of excellence in serving the public by saving lives and preventing harm on our beaches and educating our community about beach and aquatic safety.
MDFR's Ocean Rescue Lifeguards protect two of Miami-Dade's busiest public beaches year round. Crandon Park and Haulover Park are professionally guarded 365 days a year according to the following schedule:
Winter Season (November - March): 8:15 AM to 5:45 PM
Summer Season (April - October): 9:15 AM to 6:45 PM
Along Crandon Park's 1.2-mile lagoon style beach, the guarded area represents approximately 257 acres or 1,960,000 square yards of water area extending in some places to a distance of more than 800 yards off shore. In the event of an emergency, Crandon's lifeguards are also prepared to respond to the adjacent 2 miles of beach managed by the City of Key Biscayne, where there are no lifeguards on duty.
At Haulover Park in North Miami-Dade, lifeguards monitor the 1.3-mile surf-style beach up to 100 yards offshore. Haulover Park lifeguards also respond to emergency situations in Haulover Cut and continue to assist the Sunny Isles Ocean Rescue department that patrols 4 miles of Sunny Isles Beach located just north of Haulover.
Miami-Dade's Ocean Rescue Bureau maintains 30 elevated and mostly enclosed lifeguard towers spaced approximately 150 yards apart, and an operational headquarters building at each beach. There are plans for new headquarters buildings at both beaches.
Employment Requirements
-Ocean Rescue lifeguards must be at least 18 years of age and must maintain current certifications in:
-Adult / Child / Infant CPR
-First Responder
-Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
-Lifeguard Training Skills - Successful completion on the timed performance test administered at the appropriate beach, which includes the following:
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Competitive Run-Swim-Run - (180-yard run, 500-yard swim, 180-yard run) to be completed under 11:30
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75-yard Rescue - applicant must carry victim up to a designated location on the beach and verbally cover the procedures for one and two-man CPR
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Competitive 100-yard dash
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Oral interview
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Successful completion of a 2-part high-risk physical examination, including a drug & alcohol screen
Physical Skills and Performance Test & In Service Training Requirements
Lifeguard skills and training are reviewed three times a year.
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CPR / Obstructed airway - Adult, child and infant
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Two-Man CPR
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180-yard run, 500-yard swim, 180-yard run - completed under 11:30 (three times a year)
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500-meter swim under 10:00 minutes to meet the USLA standard (once a year)
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Breaks, releases, holds and escapes
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Buoy and surfboard rescues - passive, active and hysterical victim rescues
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Universal precautions / Bloodborne pathogens review
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Spinal injury management
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Ethics and HIPPA training
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Jetty and cut rescues
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Airway and breathing intervention training including oxygen therapy
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Primary and secondary medical surveys
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Each winter the entire Lifeguard Training Manual is covered during special review classes
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Lifeguards are required daily to participate in a one-hour morning training session
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Each summer "hands-on" equipment training is reviewed in physical training and workout periods
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Paramedic and EMT certified lifeguards are required to earn CEU's for State of Florida license renewal.
2007 Statistics
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Drownings: 1 (medical related)
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Bathers & Spectators: 1,695,162
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Rescues: 96
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Preventions: 61,791
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Resuscitations: 4
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First Aids: 137
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Sea Lice, Jellyfish, Man-o-War Exposures: 1,283
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Lost Person: 121
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Found Person: 121
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Lost Articles: 99
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Patron Questions: 56,127
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Restricted Swimming (Hours): 350
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Closed to Swimming (hours): 88
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Beach Wheelchair Used: 54
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Police Called: 66
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Code Enforcements:12,415
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